Method for shrinking and finishing woolen and other fabrics.



No. 885,684. n j PATBNTDD APD'. 21, 1908.

' -81.8138811188. METHOD PDR SHRINKING AND PINISHING WOOLBN AND OTHER PABRIDS.

APPLICATION FILED NQV. 22, 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS IRVING BURGHER, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD FOR `SHRINKING AND FINISI-IING- WOOLEN AND OTHER FABRICS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 21, 1908.

Application filed November 22, 1906. Serial No. 288,561.

4new and improved method and apparatus for shrinking and nishing woolens and similar textile fabrics in a very quick, simple and comparatively inexpensive manner, at the same time producing an exceedingly fine and permanent finish and without danger o f disturbing the color in case the dye used is not absolutely fast, the finish being free of creases or other undesirable marks.

The method consists essentially in rolling up a roll of a dry woolen fabric with a roll of a Wet dampening sheet, to moisten the woolen fabric by moisture from the said wet sheet; then unrolling the Jfabric and the dampening sheet and passin the same in opposite directions and re-rol ing the same, then unrolling the woolen fabric and passing it in o en width onto a heated surface and with t e face of the fabric in contact with the heated surface, to dry the fabric and to set the face fibers, and finally sponging thedr fabric. t

n order to carry this method into eect, use is made of an apparatus such as shown in the accompanying drawing, in whichl the gure is a side elevation of the apparatus.

The a paratus shown consists essentially of the fo lowing instrumentalities, namely, a saturating tank A, a rolling-up deviceB, a drying apparatus C, a spon in device D, and a rack E. The tank A is le with water in which the dampening sheet F, lpreferably of cotton, is immersed in o en width, and when properly saturated, is l' ted up, fold by fold, an placed on draining slats A arranged on the top of the tank A, to allow the surplus water to drain back into the tank A. The dampening sheet F is now rolled up on a roller G adapted to be placed in suitable bearings B arranged on one end of the frame B2 of the rolling-up device B. The woolen fabric H to be shrunken is first opened out in a loose pile in open width, and is then rolled up on a roller I, removably journaled in bearings B3 arranged on the front end of the frame B2 o posite the bearings On the franfe B2, etween` the bearings B and B3, are arranged bearings B4 for a roller B5, on

which both the woolen fabric H and the dampening sheet F are rolled up together in alternate a tained in the dampening sheet passes by capillary attraction into the layers of the dry woolen fabric H, to uniformly and thoroughly moisten the woolen fabric. Any Water that may drip off from the rolled up sheet F and fabric H falls into a suitable drip-pan B". When this has been done the `woolen fabric H and the dampening sheet F are unrolled from the roller B5 and 11e-rolled on the rollers I and G, respectively. vThe dampening sheet F can then 'be re-used by first unrolling it from the roller G and returning it to the tank F for re-saturation.

The roller I, with the moistened woolen fabric H rolled up thereon, is now transferred from the bearings B3, to bearings on a stand J arranged adjacent to one end of the heated surface C of the drying apparatus C mounted on a suitable frame C2. The heating surface C is preferably in the form of a long shell of copper or like material, and rounded ofi" at the ends, and underneath the heating surface C is arranged a heating device, preferably in the form of steam pipes K connected, at their ends, with heads K and K2 located under the ends of the heating surface C', as lainly shown in the drawing. The heads Ig and K2 are connected by inlet pipes K3 with a boiler or other source of steam supply, and the heads K and K2 are also provided Vwith suitably drain cocks or traps (not shown) for drawing off the water of condensation. The lower portions of the pipes K and the heads K are preferably covered with or embedded in asbestos or other non-I heat-conducting material, to reduce radiation or loss of heat to a minimum.

By the arrangement described steam from the boiler or other suitable source of su ply can pass into the pipes K, so that the lieat radiating from the upper portions of the pipes K heats the heating surface C to the desired temperature.

A ortion of the woolen fabric H corresponding to about the length of the heating surface C is now unrolled froml the-roller I and is passed over the heating surface C in the direction of the length thereof and with the face of the fabric downward and in oonyers, so that the moisture conloc tact with the heating surface C. This eX- tended portion of the fabric H is new left in contact With the heating surface C until the portion is sufficiently dry and in proper condition for the subsequent shrinking process. The dried portion of the fabric is now rolled up on a roller L, removably journaled in a stand J arranged adjacent to the farther end of the heating surface C. By this operation another Wet portion of the Woolen fabric H is passed over the heating surface C, to be dried in the same manner as the first portion, and then this second dried portion is rolled up on the roller L. This operation is repeated until the entire piece of the fabric H has been dried and Wound up on the roller L. The roller L With the dried fabric H rolled up Athereon is new transferred from the stand J/ the United States No. 745,321 were granted to me December 1, 1903. lThe sponging device consists essentially of steam cylinders D3 and DL journaled on the frame D2, so that Vthe dried fabric H can be unwound from the roller L and first wound up on the cylinder D3, from Which the cloth is unwound and Wound up on the other cylinder D4, to then be unwound therefrom and Wound up on a roller N removably ournaled in bearings D5 arranged on the frame D2. The cylinders D3 and D4t are supplied With dry steam through suitably valved pipes` O, and below said cylinders D3 and D4 is arranged a drip-pan P.

After the cloth has been subjected to the action of the dry steam in the cylinders D3 and D4, then the cloth is Wound up on the roller N, which is then transferred to the rack E. The roller N with the fabric H thereon is left on the rack E a sufficient length of time to properly dry, cool and re-finish. Then the cloth is properly finished, it is ready to be measured, cut, or re-rolled.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that the Woolen fabric H to be treated is first moistened by being rolled up With the Wet dampening sheet F, and then the fabric H in open Width is heated With the face of the fabric in contact with the heating surface C, se that a firm setting of the fibers takes place. The dried fabric is then subjected to the action of dry steam in the same cylinder, With a vieW to sponge the fabric Without applying pressure, and then the latter, While rolled up, is allowed to dry, cool and re-finish on the rack E.

It is understood that by the method described a large amount of Woolen piece goods can be treated in a comparatively short time, and Without danger of leaving any creases or other marks on the fabric, as the latter, during the entire process, is not folded on boards or pressed, as heretofore practiced. It Will also be noticed that the entire method can be readily carried out Without the employment of skilled labor; besides, the apparatus used is very simple and comparatively inexpensive.

By subjecting the fabric to the action of the uniformly heated surface C in the manner described, a more even shrinkage throughout the length of the piece of fabric is obtained, the amount of the shrinkage being readily controlled by the operator in charge, that is, by increasing or decreasing the length of time the fabric is in contact with the heating surface C.

By subjecting the fabric to the action of dry steam on the cylinders D" and D1, a steam finish is had which is not only permanent, but gives the fabric a very desirable luster.

Having thus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The herein-described methodr for shrinking and finishing woolen and other fabrics, consisting in rolling up a dry weelen fabric with a Wet dampening sheet te meisten the dry Woolen fabric by n'ieisture from the wet `dampening sheet, then heating and drying the Wet Woelen fabric in open width, and finally sponging and 'finishing the dried Woolen fabric by subjecting it to the action of d-ry steam while being rolled up.

2. The herein-described method for shrinkthen heating and drying the wet woelen fabric in open Width, then rolling up the dried Woolen fabric, and simultaneously subjecting it to the action of dry steam to sponge and finish the Weelen fabric.

3. The herein-described method for shrinking and finishing woolen and other fabrics, consisting in rolling up a dry weelcn fabric with a Wet dampening sheet to meisten the dry u'oolen fabric by moisture from the u'et dampening sheet, then heating and drying the Wet woolen fabric in open width, then sponging and finishing the dried u'oelen fabric by subjecting it te the action of dry steam While being rolled up, and finally drying, cooling and re-finishing the woolen fabric While rolled up.

4. rlhe herein-described method for shrinking and finishing woolen and other fabrics, consisting in saturating a fabric sheet to ferm a dampening sheet, then rolling this sheet up with the dry Woolen fabric to meisten the latter by moisture absorbed from the wet dampening sheet, then unrelling the dampening sheet and the wet Weolen fabric, then heating and drying the Wet woolen fabric in 

